QUEBEC CITY - The PQ is not making it easy for the fledgling CAQ in the National Assembly.
Unlike fellow right-wing predecessor ADQ, which gained recognition as a second official opposition party in 2009, the CAQ is receiving no such privilege.
The nine sitting CAQ members are being considered independents. They include six that made the switch from the ADQ.
Gaining the special status would give the CAQ substantial budgets for research and operations.
The ADQ had been given that status, even though it does not meet official criteria dictated by the National Assembly.
A party must have 12 MNAs or have attracted 20 percent of the overall vote to get the status. The ADQ received it even though it had only seven members and 16 percent of the vote in the 2008 election.
They were given the status nonetheless because they had "real support in the election," said PQ MNA Stephane Bedard
"When we signed the agreement in 2009 the ADQ received votes, the people had spoken," said Bedard.
Bedard said he considers the CAQ to be independent MNAs.
And he said that as independents, they'll get their time to speak, only not as much.
"The President has the flexibility to ensure that each independent member has the right to speak ', said Bedard.
Reached in Davos on a European economic meeting, Premier Jean Charest declined to wade in on the issue, saying that it falls under the authority of the President of the National Assembly, Jacques Chagnon.
"We will respect the institution and it will be the president of the National Assembly to vote on it," said Charest.
